Psalms 89:21

Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. -Development of the original promise to David, already alluded to in Psalms 89:3 as the central ground of the psalm. First in God is represented as having promised perpetual deliverance from foes to David, and so to David's people: also special sonship, universal dominion, and perpetuity of his seed and throne. Then the objection is met, that this promise my become void through the unfaithfulness of the seed of the anointed: nay, the promise is unconditional; sins will indeed entail chastisements, but will not cause utter withdrawal of the Lord's loving-kindness and faithfulness ...

19-37 The Lord anointed David with the holy oil, not only as an emblem of the graces and gifts he received, but as a type of Christ, the King Priest, and Prophet, anointed with the Holy Ghost without measure. David after his anointing, was persecuted, but none could gain advantage against him. Yet all this was a faint shadow of the Redeemer's sufferings, deliverance, glory, and authority, in whom alone these predictions and promises are fully brought to pass. He is the mighty God. This is the Redeemer appointed for us, who alone is able to complete the work of our salvation. Let us seek an interest in these blessings, by the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. As the Lord corrected the posterity of David for their transgressions, so his people shall be corrected for their sins. Yet it is but a rod, not a sword; it is to correct, not to destroy. It is a rod in the hand of God, who...

WITH WHOM MY HAND SHALL BE ESTABLISHED - Septuagint: “My hand shall aid him.” Luther; “My hand shall hold him.” DeWette; “With him my hand shall be continually.” Professor Alexander; “Shall ever be present.” The idea is, that God would always defend or protect him. He would not merely interpose at times, or at intervals, but he would be his constant protector. His hand would be permanently, or constantly, extended for his aid - as if it were a part of David’s own person, or were his own hand, to be used as he pleased. So God is the constant helper of his people. They may rely on his power; they may avail themselves of it, as if it were their own. MINE ARM ALSO SHALL STRENGTHEN HIM - In using his own arm, he will in fact make use of the strength of mine. The people of God are as really defended as if the strength of God were theirs; or as if they were themselves almighty. The omnipotence...

EXPOSITION At first sight, a psalm of praise; but, in reality, one of expostulation and complaint. The praises of God are sung in the opening section (Psalms 89:1); they culminated in the Davidical covenant. But this covenant has been "made void," annulled. The existing state of things is directly contrary to all its promises (Psalms 89:38-19). How long is this to continue? Does not God's faithfulness require the deliverance of Israel and of the Davidical house from their calamities, and their speedy restoration to his favour (Psalms 89:46-19)? Psalms 89:52 is no part of the psalm, but the doxology which

WITH WHOM MY HAND SHALL BE ESTABLISHED,.... A promise of God's gracious presence with Christ, as man and Mediator, which is his work; of a communication of grace and strength from him, to carry him through it; and of his supporting and upholding him under it; which hand of his power and grace would be always prepared and ready for him, as the word a signifies, and stable and firm with him, so that he should have success in it; the pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand; so the Targum, "for my hands are prepared for his help;'' the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and all the eastern versions, "mine hand shall help him"; and which is confirmed in the next words: mine arm also shall strengthen him; in the human nature, subject to and encompassed with infirmities: this shows the greatness of the work of man's redemption, which no creature could effect; it required the arm and power of...

Psalms 89:1. Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. That is to say, an instructive Psalm, written by or for one Ethan, one of the great singers of David's day. He sings of the covenant, the covenant with David, ordered in all things and sure. There is no higher theme for song than the covenant of God's grace, one marvels that it has not oftener been sung by those who are the gifted children of poetry. Psalms 89:1. _I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever:_ Another subject might wear out, but this glorious topic will never be exhausted, Here is a theme which we can sing of in eternity as well as in time. Let others choose what subject they may, «I will sing of the mercies of Jehovah for ever.» Psalm

Psalms 89 God's Faithfulness: His Oath-bound Covenant with David _ 1. Jehovah's faithfulness (Psalms 89:1)_ 2. His covenant with David (Psalms 89:19) 3. The ruin and desolation (Psalms 89:38) 4. How long, Lord? Remember! (Psalms 89:46) A Maschil of Ethan, a Merarite (1 Chronicles 6:44; 1 Chronicles 15:17). The greater pa

LXXXIX. THE COVENANT WITH DAVID. The Ps. may be divided thus: Psalms 89:1. The promise made to David (2 Samuel 7). Yahweh is all-powerful, so that He can, faithful so that He will, fulfil His word. Psalms 89:19. The promise considered at greater length. Observe the sobriety of tone. It is David's dynasty, not David himself, which is to endure for ever, and the kingdom promised is not world-wide but limited to the old boundaries, viz. the Euphrates and the Egyptian frontier. Psalms 89:38. In spite of this great promise Israel is in abject misery, and the time is short, for human life is soon over. The Ps. is generally admitted to be post-exilic. The sceptre had already ...

The mention of the king in Psalms 89:18 naturally leads up to the covenant with David which was briefly alluded to in Psalms 89:3. The Psalmist now recites the promise in detail in a poetical expansion of the narrative in 2 Samuel 7....

PSALMS 89 DESCRIPTIVE TITLE The Covenant with David Contrasted with the Present Dishonour of David's Heir. ANALYSIS Stanza I., Psalms 89:1-2, The Keynotes of the psalmJehovah's Kindness and Faithfulness. Stanza II., Psalms 89:3-4, Brief Summary of Jehovah's Covenant with David. Stanzas III.-VII., Psalms 89:5-14, The Character, Court Works and Dominion of the Covenant God. Stanza VIII., IX., Psalms 89:15-18, The Happy Estate of the Covenant People. Stanzas X.-XIX.,...